What Linux distro to use for old Intel machine, that fits on CDs?

R

raylopez99

I have not been able to get a straight answer to this, despite almost
a year of trying.

Maybe three's the charm?

Here goes again...

I have an old machine, not my main machine, nearly in mothballs that
somebody uses on occasion to surf the net and print a letter on a
recent model HP inkjet using OpenOffice as the word processor
program. The machine is running on Windows 2000. The machine is an
Intel Pentium II, about 200 MHz clock, with about 500 MB RAM (or maybe
it's 225, I upgraded it but forgot what it was, but I'm pretty sure
it's 512 MB). The C: hard drive is only 2 GB large--the only one for
the OS. This was a popular configuration in the mid to late 90s so
I'm sure a lot of these machines exist in the world, so somebody must
have loaded Linux on one of them.

The machine has no DVD, only a CD reader. It has a late 90s but
popular video card, forget the brand.

What Linux distro to use for this configuration? I can, using another
PC, download a distro, but then I would have to burn it onto a CD or
CDs, so I would rather not do that--that is, I would rather get or buy
a Linux distro that is already burnt, in proper order, onto labeled
CDs to make installation easier.

In case you're wondering why I want to switch to Linux: though the NT
system is functional, it's slow, and rumor has it that Linux is 'virus
free' (or nearly so) and faster. Presumeably since Linux is virus-
free I would not need antivirus (AV) software. Is this true?
Eliminating AV software would free up RAM. Again, this system is not
for a power user. I myself am a power user, would never think of
switching to Linux. But for this lightweight user, perhaps Linux
might work for them.

Any ideas welcome. Be advised that I also needle the posters at
comp.os.linux.advocacy, but this is not a flame. I really have not
been able to get a straight answer on this issue.

Some common mistakes made by respondants: they recommend their
favorite distro without checking the min system requirements; they
recommend something they've never tried (Puppy Linux, Ubuntu, and Damn
Small Linux seem to be a favorites--but I need somebody who is very
familiar with a distro before I install it and find out it won't work
on this archaic system); and they assume that I have fast internet
access on this machine. Also, some spiteful types from
comp.os.linux.advocacy (avoid this group like the plague unless you
simply enjoy flaming for its own sake) recommend distros that, when I
research them, find they won't work on this machine specified above,
so, please cite your choice with a link if possible.

Thanks for your attention.

RL
 
R

RonB

raylopez99 said:
I have an old machine, not my main machine, nearly in mothballs that
somebody uses on occasion to surf the net and print a letter on a
recent model HP inkjet using OpenOffice as the word processor
program.  The machine is running on Windows 2000. The machine is an
Intel Pentium II, about 200 MHz clock, with about 500 MB RAM (or maybe
it's 225, I upgraded it but forgot what it was, but I'm pretty sure
it's 512 MB).  The C: hard drive is only 2 GB large--the only one for
the OS.  This was a popular configuration in the mid to late 90s so
I'm sure a lot of these machines exist in the world, so somebody must
have loaded Linux on one of them.

The machine has no DVD, only a CD reader.  It has a late 90s but
popular video card, forget the brand.

What Linux distro to use for this configuration?  I can, using another
PC, download a distro, but then I would have to burn it onto a CD or
CDs, so I would rather not do that--that is, I would rather get or buy
a Linux distro that is already burnt, in proper order, onto labeled
CDs to make installation easier.

Last time this question was asked I pointed to Vector Linux. I have used
Vector Linux -- not on a machine as old as yours, but one close to it.
Vector Linux Standard defaults to the Xface desktop -- a nicely implemented
version of it -- so it is not weighted down by KDE or Gnome. You can buy a
CD if you want for $25-27.

I don't use Anti-Virus or Anti-Malware software on my Linux computer. I
originally installed AVG but, since it found nothing, I uninstalled it
considering it a waste of time and space.

Vector Linux's website below:

http://www.vectorlinux.com/

The Standard 5.9 edition requires 128 Meg of RAM and... ah... 2.6 Gigs.

So I guess you would have to go with the Light Edition, which requires 64
Meg of RAM and a 2 Gig hard drive.

(Hell, send me an email and I'll dig up a "huge" 6 Gig hard drive and send
it.)
 
B

Benjamin Gawert

* raylopez99:
I have not been able to get a straight answer to this, despite almost
a year of trying.

Maybe then this time you should take the time and at least check what
you really have? "...about 200 MHz clock, with about 500 MB RAM (or
maybe it's 225.." and "...It has a late 90s but
popular video card, forget the brand...." is worth nothing. There is no
PentiumII 200MHz, so either it is a Pentium 200 or a PentiumII with
higher clock speed. If it's a Pentium then you won't have much fun
running Linux on it, too (except maybe for use as a router or file
server). Same about memory (exact size and type), the mainboard and also
the gfx card. You also want to check the gfx card because it won't give
you much fun if it's not supported by Linux.

If you expect people to help you the least thing you can do is to
provide accurate details.

Benjamin
 
A

Andrew Halliwell

In comp.os.linux.misc raylopez99 said:
I have not been able to get a straight answer to this, despite almost
a year of trying.

Here we go....
over a dozen posts all with valid straight answers...

Warning to non-COLA members...
Lopez is a waste of space. An utter waste of skin.
He's always pulling this trick, asking for help on a simple install and then
utterly ignoring anyone who offers advice and complaining that no-one helped
or no-one would give him a straight answer.

He does it every few months.
 
A

Andrew Halliwell

In comp.os.linux.misc Benjamin Gawert said:
If you expect people to help you the least thing you can do is to
provide accurate details.

Yeah, like THAT'LL ever happen...
I think he makes the specs up as he goes along, sometimes.
(to be fair to linux though, I doubt there's a video card THAT old that'll
cause problems)
 
M

Mark Hobley

Benjamin Gawert said:
There is no PentiumII 200MHz, so either it is a Pentium 200 or a PentiumII
with > higher clock speed.

It runs Microsoft Windows 2000, so it must be a Pentium II
If it's a Pentium then you won't have much fun
running Linux on it

I use Pentium 120s here, and they work fine. It depends really on what
you use them for, I suppose.
You also want to check the gfx card because it won't give
you much fun if it's not supported by Linux.

Yeah, this is important. You will not be able to use "Windows
Acceleration" without a supported card, and you will be limited to using
800x600 SVGA mode. However many popular cards are supported, but you
could really do with finding out what type of card is installed.

If it runs Microsoft Windows 2000, you may be able to look at the system
properties to find this.

I use Debian on my computers, but I have upgraded all of my hard drives
to at least 20Gb in size. (Many modern IDE drives have a capacity
limiter jumper, restricting their capacity to 32Gb, making them useable
in older machines.)

If you want to stick with a small 2Gb drive, I would suggest Puppy
Linux.

Regards,

Mark.
 
B

BubbaT

It runs Microsoft Windows 2000, so it must be a Pentium II
Do not waste your time speculating. Belarcs advisor runs on any WIndows
platform down to Win98. Simply ask him to save the4 output and post it.
 
R

ray

I have not been able to get a straight answer to this, despite almost a
year of trying.

Maybe three's the charm?

Here goes again...

I have an old machine, not my main machine, nearly in mothballs that
somebody uses on occasion to surf the net and print a letter on a recent
model HP inkjet using OpenOffice as the word processor program. The
machine is running on Windows 2000. The machine is an Intel Pentium II,
about 200 MHz clock, with about 500 MB RAM (or maybe it's 225, I
upgraded it but forgot what it was, but I'm pretty sure it's 512 MB).
The C: hard drive is only 2 GB large--the only one for the OS. This was
a popular configuration in the mid to late 90s so I'm sure a lot of
these machines exist in the world, so somebody must have loaded Linux on
one of them.

The machine has no DVD, only a CD reader. It has a late 90s but popular
video card, forget the brand.

What Linux distro to use for this configuration? I can, using another
PC, download a distro, but then I would have to burn it onto a CD or
CDs, so I would rather not do that--that is, I would rather get or buy a
Linux distro that is already burnt, in proper order, onto labeled CDs to
make installation easier.

In case you're wondering why I want to switch to Linux: though the NT
system is functional, it's slow, and rumor has it that Linux is 'virus
free' (or nearly so) and faster. Presumeably since Linux is virus- free
I would not need antivirus (AV) software. Is this true? Eliminating AV
software would free up RAM. Again, this system is not for a power user.
I myself am a power user, would never think of switching to Linux. But
for this lightweight user, perhaps Linux might work for them.

Any ideas welcome. Be advised that I also needle the posters at
comp.os.linux.advocacy, but this is not a flame. I really have not been
able to get a straight answer on this issue.

Some common mistakes made by respondants: they recommend their favorite
distro without checking the min system requirements; they recommend
something they've never tried (Puppy Linux, Ubuntu, and Damn Small Linux
seem to be a favorites--but I need somebody who is very familiar with a
distro before I install it and find out it won't work on this archaic
system); and they assume that I have fast internet access on this
machine. Also, some spiteful types from comp.os.linux.advocacy (avoid
this group like the plague unless you simply enjoy flaming for its own
sake) recommend distros that, when I research them, find they won't work
on this machine specified above, so, please cite your choice with a link
if possible.

Thanks for your attention.

RL

I would probably try Elive first - I installed it on a P166 with 64mb RAM
last year and it was 'decent'. Other options would include Damn Small and
Vector.
 
R

raylopez99

Maybe then this time you should take the time and at least check what
you really have? "...about 200 MHz clock, with about 500 MB RAM (or
maybe it's 225.." and "...It has a late 90s but
popular video card, forget the brand...." is worth nothing. There is no
PentiumII 200MHz, so either it is a Pentium 200 or a PentiumII with
higher clock speed. If it's a Pentium then you won't have much fun
running Linux on it, too (except maybe for use as a router or file
server). Same about memory (exact size and type), the mainboard and also
the gfx card.

So your argument then is for maintaining the status quo--running
Windows 2000. Thanks for your vote.

Anybody else?

RL
 
R

raylopez99

If you want to stick with a small 2Gb drive, I would suggest Puppy
Linux.

Regards,

Mark.

Thank you Mark for the Puppy Linux vote, though I take it you're
relying on hearsay and have never tried it. What word processor and
what web browser do you recommend for such a weak system?

RL
 
R

raylopez99

Do not waste your time speculating. Belarcs advisor runs on any WIndows
platform down to Win98. Simply ask him to save the4 output and post it.

No shiite head Bubba--the system is not mine, it's loaned to a friend,
far away in fact. Any other "brilliant" ideas, Einstein?

RL
 
R

raylopez99

I would probably try Elive first - I installed it on a P166 with 64mb RAM
last year and it was 'decent'. Other options would include Damn Small and
Vector.

Thanks for the Elive cite. I just checked their website--and it fits
the bill. However, they insist on money for the "fits on one CD
version".

I don't want to pay for something that might not work.

Also, how stable is this? For surfing the web (mainly checking email)
and printing a letter, how often does Elive (or any other 'minimum
hardware' distro) crash?

RL

PS--notice the bad english: "I have not put a minimum donation"...wow,
how good a programmer is this guy? I hope he's foreign, that would be
excuseable and understandable.

RL

Please give me something to continue my work!

Why request a donation ?

Elive is free and made with pleasure for your pleasure, but free does
not mean "no cost" . I spend all my time developing Elive. It is my
choice. Your choice is whether or not downloading Elive is worth a
donation. I have not put a minimum donation, because I realize that
many of you are students with very limited resources. I thank You for
showing interest in Elive, and hope to see you in #elive on IRC!

You decide the value Elive has for you. What do you obtain ? You
maintain the future of Elive and you also receive faster downloads.

No Money: If you can't possible to donate for Download Elive, we
propose you those solutions:

* The better option is to use our invitation codes system
* You can try Elive from a development version.
 
R

ray

Thanks for the Elive cite. I just checked their website--and it fits
the bill. However, they insist on money for the "fits on one CD
version".

I don't want to pay for something that might not work.

Be creative - there are certainly ways to download it for free - including
bittorrent.
Also, how stable is this? For surfing the web (mainly checking email)
and printing a letter, how often does Elive (or any other 'minimum
hardware' distro) crash?

I don't run it regularly, but last time I checked, it was quite robust. In
the past I have had some issues with E17 though E16 was rock solid - E17
has grown a lot since then, though.
 
B

Benjamin Gawert

* Andrew Halliwell:
I think he makes the specs up as he goes along, sometimes.
(to be fair to linux though, I doubt there's a video card THAT old that'll
cause problems)

What about the Nvidia Riva128(ZX) or the bigger cards from 3DLabs
(Wildcat series)?

Benjamin
 
B

Benjamin Gawert

* raylopez99:
So your argument then is for maintaining the status quo--running
Windows 2000.

No, my argument is that you should finally get your act together and
check what exactly you have.

Benjamin
 
M

Mark Hobley

raylopez99 said:
Thank you Mark for the Puppy Linux vote, though I take it you're
relying on hearsay and have never tried it. What word processor and
what web browser do you recommend for such a weak system?

I have used Puppy Linux, and it works fine. It comes with Mozilla
Seamonkey and Abiword.

Regards,

Mark.
 
M

Mark Hobley

Benjamin Gawert said:
Why? Windows 2000 runs out of the box on a Pentium 133 with 64MB.

Hmmm, I'm sure Microsoft have changed their minds, since I last looked at this,
but you appear to be right. That is what their website now says.

I used to run a 450Mhz Pentium with 128Mb RAM and Microsoft Windows '95.
My machine was way above specification, but the system ran like a pile
of shit. I'm glad the days of Microsoft Windows are over.

Mark.
 
B

Benjamin Gawert

* Mark Hobley:
Hmmm, I'm sure Microsoft have changed their minds, since I last looked at this,
but you appear to be right. That is what their website now says.

It's also what it said even before Windows2000 came out and is
completely in line with support of older hardware in former Windows
releases.

Benjamin
 
R

raylopez99

You will have to go into more detail as to what you expect
the user of that machine to do:

- Browsing?
YES

- Email?
YES

- Flash Gameplay (e.g., ArmorGames, Miniclip)?
- Native Gameplay (e.g., Halo, UT, Quake)?
- Spreadsheets?
NO

- Documentation?

OpenOffice or Word or even Google Apps.
- Software development?
  * C/C++?
  * .NET?
  * Java?
  * Other?

Hell no! I doubt you can compile a decent console mode program on PII
without pulling out your hairs, once you're used to a modern multicore
machine.
You can tryhttp://www.damnsmalllinux.org/if you just want to
experiment; it's one of the lighter-weight distros, occupying
only 50MB of disk space.

Yes, I got the distro for this. Like you said, the problem is linux
evolves over time, and I'm trying to install a 2008 OS (linux) on a
1996 machine.

RL
 

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